The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1887-11-30

English vlIlage-Noisy as an American
Fourth of July
When James I came to the throne the
Catholics hoped he would repeal many harsh
laws then pressing on them. This he failed
to do, and in consequence a secret plot was
formed to blow up the houses of parliament
on the day he went to open the session, and
SO destroy the governing power of the nation.
The 9th Of November, 1905, was fixed upon
for the date. Shortly prior to that date it
occurred to some of the conspirators that in
destroying all the nobility many, per force,
of the Catholic peers would perish. So, by
way of trying to avoid this, am anonymous
letter was forwarded to one of the mobiles
warning him to absent himself from the cere-
mony. Part of the text was as follows:
'They shall receive a terrible blowe this par
lament These words seem to have puzzled
many to whom the epistle was shown, but
they eventually led to the suggestion Of gun
powder being used TO blow up the houses, and
thorough search Of the vaults underneath
the parliament building was ordered. This
was done, and resulted in finding thirty-six
barrels of powder covered over with fagots
Of wood, so as to hide them They were in
charge of man named Guy or Guilds
| Fawkes, from whose person were taken a
watch, a finder box and some touch wood.
This Guy Fawlxes was q man of some %
years of age, of good family and of a bold
and venturesome spirit. He had been engaged
to fire the train and then make his escape to
France in ship provided for that purpose.
In consequence of the failure Of this con-
spiracy, the 9Th of November was ordered to
be kept as a day of thanksgiving forever by
an act of parliament, which was not repealed
for over two centuries. In many-indeed in
most-of the large English cities the celebra-
ton is mere fizzle. A few fireworks in out
of the way spots, a bonfire where one can be
lighted without fear of interruption, lame
attempt at burning a badly manufactured
effigy Of Guy Fawkes, and by Q p. M all is
over. Most of this, too, is the work Of boys,
very few of the more sedate members of soci-
ETY. taking any part in it. Occasionally
paterfamilias win let off few squibs and
crackers for the amusement of the small fry
of the family, but that Is ALL There are,
however, one or two smaller towns which are
true to the traditions of their ancestors.
Bridgewater is one OF these, an ancient city
of some 10000 inhabitants, situated in the
county of Somerset, and in the west country.
Il has long been the custom there TO keep
November in way that is now almost
unique For several weeks prior TO that
date the inhabitants begin their preparations.
These consist in manufacturing fireworks,
organizing bands of participants, arranging
costumes, selecting places to store their am
munition and various other details.
The fireworks are principally squibs
squibs of all sizes, but all made thus: A
round piece of wood, say part of a broom
handle about fifteen or eighteen inches In
length, is sawed in two, an inch and half
from one end. A hole is then bored In both
pieces and an iron pin inserted in the layer
so that the smaller can be replaced TO appear
as il the whole had not been cut, but at the
same time allowing it TO be removed at will.
At this joint each end is pointed as If one
sharpened pencil and the stick Is ready for
uss. Round this roller is wrapped layer of
thickish paper-copy books are often enl-
ployed-and gunmed together. A piece OF
string Is then wound about the joint in the
wood and drawn tight, and by so doing the
paper is contracted and kind of neck
formed. Several more sheets of paper hay
ing been treated in a like manner and the.
whole being thoroughly dry, the top of the
roller is removed, tho larger end taken out
and there Is the case complete. A compost
ton of half gunpowder and steel filings with
a "bang" of plain powder at the end forms
the material for loading, all OF which Is
rammed tightly and the end Of the case Is
closed. The head is covered with touch
paper and then all his ready for action. 1t
will be pretty evident to most people that it
would not do to hold such fireworls as the
one have described in the hand and holder
Is therefore necessity. That is made of q
long stick with mallet shaped head grooved
the proper size and the squib 1t is to hold is
tied on with string.
Having manufactured good supply Of
these weapons, the next thing to do Is to find
place where they can be stored on the cve-
ming of the eventful day, and some small
shop away from the scene Of the festivities
is usually selected Then comes the last Of
the eparations-namely, what band to join
and what costume to wear. IL none be worn
it is only necessary TO select the oldest posi-
bic clothes In ones wardrobe. And now for
glorious 9th. By the afternoon trains many
strangers arrive to see the sport, and soon
after o o'clock all traffic in the main
thoroughfares is suspended Little by little
up to 1880 o'clock the number Of people in tho
streets increases and when at that time the
bonfire is lighted in the market places there is
fairly large crowd Of celebrants. Then the
fun begins and the windows of the houses
overlooking the scene of the festivities are
thronged with spectators. First comes q
band of men in costume-red devils-and
passing round the FIRE each person lights his
squib. Phiz-z-z goes number one--a glorious
fountain of fire playing everywhere and any
where at the sweet will of the holder The
others take it up till there are some eight on
ten sGuibs blazing and squirting away like SC
many small volcanoes.
Meanwhile another band arrives, and their
squibs being lighted, the members begin u
attack the first corners with them. The as
sault is returned, and, fresh men having ar
rived on the scene, those who have used
their weapons retire TO replenish, and so they
come and go, till from the noise ono would
4 think few batteries Of artillery were at
work. And work well they do, too, for the
next couple of hours, the noise increasing
rather than otherwise. Now more tar bar
rels are heaped on the fire and the flames Leaf
upward with fresh fury. Then comes q
sound which rises above the din Of the con
tinual explosions. 1t is the cheer of thost
who are bringing the Guy Fawkes to commit
him TO the flames l need hardly say that ai
this distance of time IL is not the efiigy Of thu
real traitor which Is burned. The Guy
Fawkes OF the year is generally some politi
cal or local person who has made himself un
popular at the time. The group comes bear
ing him ON chair placed on platform sup
ported by several men, and as he nears tn
scene OF his execution he is saiuted by cheer
and groans and .yolleys from the squibs. Ar
rived at the fire he is chained once round
and then, amid one great shout from tn
multitude, he is committed to the fire, whicl
soon consumes him The fire, which ha
lulled little during this, again grows fas
and furious until about 10 o'clock, when, th'
supplies having become exhausted and thu
fire burned low, the noise grows less and les
and the streets begin to be deserted Cor
! San Francisco Chronicle.
Her Greatest Domestic Act.
Timid Young Suitor who has won consen